Targeting Melanocortin 4 Receptor to Treat Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Mice

Dataset Overview

This dataset contains experimental data generated in a study investigating the effects of pharmacological activation of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) on respiratory function and sleep-disordered breathing in mice. The dataset includes physiological measurements obtained from mice subjected to pharmacological treatments and respiratory monitoring protocols.
The primary goal of the study was to determine whether MC4R activation improves sleep-disordered breathing in diet-induced obese mice.

Principal Investigator

Vsevolod Y. Polotsky
Departments of:
Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine
Pharmacology and Physiology
Medicine
George Washington University Washington, DC, USA

Dataset Description

This dataset contains processed experimental data collected from mouse studies evaluating respiratory, metabolic, and physiological parameters following pharmacological manipulation of the MC4R pathway.
The dataset includes measurements related to breathing patterns, gas exchange, metabolic activity, sleep parameters, and other physiological variables obtained during respiratory monitoring experiments.

Experimental Design

Adult male and female mice were used in the experiments. Animals were subjected to pharmacological treatments including the MC4R agonist, setmelanotide, or vehicle controls.
Respiratory and metabolic variables were measured during wakefulness and sleep using physiological monitoring systems.

Dataset Structure

/processed_data
Contains cleaned and processed datasets used for statistical analysis.
File Description
File Name	Description
jci-135-177823-s180.xlsx	Processed physiological dataset containing respiratory parameters, metabolic measurements, sleep variables, and behavioral data

Variables Included

The dataset includes the following physiological and experimental variables:
Respiratory rate
Tidal volume
Minute ventilation
Oxygen consumption (VO₂)
Carbon dioxide production (VCO₂)
Respiratory exchange ratio (RER)
Food intake
Body weight
Apnea index
Motor activity
Percentage of specific cell populations
Oxygen saturation (SpO₂)
Maximal inspiratory flow (ViMax)
Maximal inspiratory flow rate (MIFR)
Sleep architecture parameters

Data Processing

Raw data were exported from acquisition software and processed using statistical and data analysis tools. Data processing included artifact removal, signal quality verification, and normalization of respiratory variables when appropriate.

Software and Tools
Data analysis and visualization were performed using:
GraphPad Prism

Reproducibility
All experimental conditions, treatments, and variable definitions are documented to facilitate data interpretation and replication of analyses.

Ethical Approval
All animal experiments were conducted in accordance with institutional and national guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals.
The study protocols were approved by:
The Animal Care and Use Committee of Johns Hopkins University (Protocol MO19M191)
The Animal Care and Use Committee of George Washington University (Protocol A2023-014)

